Denver to SLC

[wookalar]

I 70 or 80?

I've always gone 70 and up, but we typed it in on mapquest last night and it said 25 to cheyenne then 80 west.

Thoughts? I'm all about saving 6 minutes.

[backpack]

yea, 80 is always faster... unless it's closed, but...

and don't take 25 all the way up, cut off in ft. collins on, what is it... highway 287? that cuts the corner between 80 and 25 and will save you some time.

[wookalar]

really? Well raise my rent....

http://www.scvhistory.com/gif/lw2145b.jpg

Cool, I guess we'll take a new route. That works pretty well actually- gotta pick up the old lady at DIA on the way out the door anyway.

Thanks!

[jdabasin]

I-80 is faster by ~ 15 minutes unless it's windy. And in the winter, I-80 blows, literally so you end up spending an xtra 10$$ on gas to get out there even though it's a few miles shorter than hitting I-70 to 6 up to Provo then on to SLC. I suggest I-70 on the way out and I-80 on the way back. Nice tailwind on the way back....
dated a mormon for a year so made plenty of trips back and forth. Yep....a naughty mormon!!!

[Mr. Altagirl]

I drive both routes but if the weather is good, I-80 (with the short cut to Ft. Collins) is propably faster. Way more boring but you get where you want to be. Be prepared for wind though, it is always tough. Last year, I did one trip where I used 2 tanks of gas going to Denver, 4 tanks going back against the wind.

[lemon boy]

I think I 80 is a good deal more than 15 mins faster, that said after getting burned a couple of times by the world's worst driving conditions I've sworn off it forever unless going to JH. It can be really miserable.

Now, going 70 can also be really terrible but not in the same malicious way as 80. Plus, 99 in 100 times the stretch from GJ to Price is free and clear.

[wookalar]

I drive both routes but if the weather is good, I-80 (with the short cut to Ft. Collins) is propably faster. Way more boring but you get where you want to be. Be prepared for wind though, it is always tough. Last year, I did one trip where I used 2 tanks of gas going to Denver, 4 tanks going back

I think I 80 is a good deal more than 15 mins faster, that said after getting burned a couple of times by the world's worst driving conditions I've sworn off it forever unless going to JH. It can be really miserable.

hmmm...guess I'll keep an eye on the weather. Got a thirsty diesel suburban, so wind slows er down somethin fierce.

Thanks again, looks like a gametime decision.

[backpack]

Yea, it can get windy... and really, really cold, but it's definitely easier to speed on 80 (it's pretty straight). I've taken that route maybe 20 or 30 times, and it normally takes 7-8 hours or so to get from Ogden to Denver, though if you're MD9 you can make it even faster .

Also, I took the greyhound on 80 to denver and 70 to SLC from denver, and it was like 3 hours faster going on 80. Not that you're driving a bus

It does seem like people from denver take 70, and from SLC/Ogden take 80... but maybe it's because they each leave from the middle of their respective cities.

[lemon boy]

I-80 + wind + Big vehicle = "Sailing The Box"

Mine isn't slowed by wind but is certainly thirsty in it Two years ago I took it going to JH and got my worst mileage ever:

50mph headwind, hubs locked (but in 2wd) 80mph speed = 12mpg

[zion zig zag]

just be extra cautious if you decide to go I-70, hwy 6 from price to spanish fork consistently makes the top ten list for most dangerous roads.

[Knockneed Man]

Originally posted by flykdog
just be extra cautious if you decide to go I-70, hwy 6 from price to spanish fork consistently makes the top ten list for most dangerous roads.

AND a high percentage of canine infested police cars...

[meatdrink9]

On 80 I've been averaging 7 hours to Brigham city and 6.5 to Ogden (about same distance as SLC). It's just about the same amount of time to fly. By the time you factor the drive to the airport, the parking, the mandatory check-in time, the actual flight, retrieving your bags, renting a car and then driving another hour to my 'rents place.

There are also no cops on 80. I'm in a Dodge Neon that harnesses the awesome power of hamsters. All the hill climbs and traffic of 70 suck. Besides when you take 80 you don't pass through any tunnels (you know what they symbolize).

[lemon boy]

I've seen exactly one po po between green river and price.

He was in a maroon (unmarked) caprice and was only running his rear window lights. This gentleman passed me one night way out in the middle of the stretch going easily over a buck twenty. Saw him sitting at the connoco in Price drinking coffee later

[MacDaddy]

Originally posted by jdabasin
I-80 is faster by ~ 15 minutes unless it's windy. And in the winter, I-80 blows, literally so you end up spending an xtra 10$$ on gas to get out there even though it's a few miles shorter than hitting I-70 to 6 up to Provo then on to SLC. I suggest I-70 on the way out and I-80 on the way back. Nice tailwind on the way back....
dated a mormon for a year so made plenty of trips back and forth. Yep....a naughty mormon!!!

I'm sorry but I need chime in here

DEN-SLC on I -80 is at least two hours longer than the I-70 route

It does and thats final I've done them both in the Winter and Summer, and I -80 is by far the fastest route. somebody please time them both, and post your times please!

it has taken me as long as 12 hours in decent weather to get to DEN on 1-70 and 13 on the way back

I've made the trip in 7 to Denver and 8.5 on the way back to SLC on I-80

[wookalar]

AND a high percentage of canine infested police cars...

There are also no cops on 80.

80 it is!

MacDaddy- you're throwing off my bell curve!

[teleee]

I have to agree with Macdaddy. I have done the trip countless times and although 70 is more scenic you cant even touch the time savings by using I-80. At leat 1-1/2 hours faster. Although, do watch the weather, being snowed in Rock Springs SUCKS!!!

[dbldmnd]

I did the I-80 Ogden-Den leg in about 6.5 hrs last november with decent weather, including stops and a sit-down meal at Buda-Bob's in Rock Springs. That was using I-80 and I-25, 287 to Laramie is good but the interstate lends itself to higher average speeds.

On the I-70 route, a good day will get me from bldr-glenwood springs in a little over 3 hrs and and maybe another 3 to green river, even at this time you've got some ground to cover to get to SLC. I think I-80 wins.

[Crinkle]

Originally posted by MacDaddy
somebody please time them both, and post your times please!

Calling all Cannonballers!!!!

I did the I-80 Ogden-Den leg in about 6.5 hrs last november with decent weather

that is 528 miles on a generic map search via 80-25. which equals out to 81mph without stopping. Possible that you did it that fast, but not with sit down dinner. Looks like 287 will save you about 15 miles off of that 80-25 corner.

[jdabasin]

what about I-70 to Rifle where you can catch Rt. 13 to Meeker, hang a left onto 64 until you hit Rt. 40 at Dinosaur. 40 takes you to Pork City directly and you can hop on I-80 there. this is the least mileage (504 from my trips) but always takes 8:15 or so in good weather.

If we have a chinook...don't go I-80. Sucks, blowing snow always drifting aross the road and if it's snowing you can almost guarantee flipped trucks or road closures from Laramie to Elk Mountain. In the winter, it is ALWAYS windy in the i-80 wind tunnel which makes you have to struggle to stay on the road. Makes for stressful driving.

ahhh fuck it.....just take I-80. lots of nothing to see in Wyoming.

[bagtagley]

We hit the late-december storm heading from Denver to SLC on I-80 a couple weeks ago. It took at least 10 hours to get there, windy and oh so stressful. On the other hand, coming back we took 70 and with weather and parking lot conditions after the tunnel it took us almost 12 hours.

6 of one, half dozen the other...they both suck.

[Ireallyliketoski2]

I-80 has that weird glowing factory in the middle of nowhere where I believe they are secretly manufacturing an army of mutant pig warriors.

[lemon boy]

That's a geothermic power plant..

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Or an alien gene farm

[funkendrenchman]

I have driven I-80 to Salt Lake many times and have taken 70 once. I-80 is without a doubt the faster route in all but shitty conditions. No way gas is $10 more because of the winds. Don't forget you're driving through the mountains when taking 70, so are you burning big time gas that way. The other key reason I take 80 is because you don't really have to pay attention to the other traffic at any point - just get on, set the cruise control at 85 mph, and you won't have to hit the brakes until you get off for gas, then repeat.

As for cops, they are definitely there. Everytime I have seen at least one cop and they do a pretty good job of hiding in blind rollovers, so I would cap the cruising speed at 85. I've gone by 4 or 5 cops at 85 and haven't gotten pulled over.